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ooo i feel honoured that 2 people like my idea even though i haven't got far with developing it yet! i think we are going to make it linked to maths puzzles and problems, i have a picture in my mind of a wizards hat to put on when they are working there like they are important he he

As part of our G and T provision all our classes have a challenge corner. It tends to be easier with older children as they can read the instructions! I found though that in my reception class it is more useful to have a daily challenge - i.e. today all the children had to have a go at completing a new jigsaw puzzle either by themselves or with a friend.

What about a challange a day/couple of days - children have to work something out/predict??? For example Guess how many moon rocks in the jar?
write answers on a post it - everyone who enters gets a certificate. I do this with nursery and it really encourages children to have a go at e.g. writing numbers, their name etc.

I fill two pots with different number of items i.e one with 15 straws, one with 9 2d shapes (have a small display board saying how many.....above each pot). I leave two pads, 2pencils and trays to put their name and answers in then do the results at the end of the day and give stickers to those who get the right answer.its great to see lots of my children doing it and asking how to write a number. It also allows me to see their number formation.

I bought the book 'Meeting the Challenge' published by Featherstone Education after attending a course in Kent.
It has some good ideas for all subjects. We are trying to introduce the challenges in 'choosing' time and they last until everyone has done it. For instance, our science topic has been 'light'. The challenge was to find the best curtains for the captain's cabin using material pieces, a converted shoebox and a torch in the dark pirate's cave. Everyone wanted their turn and all were engaged. Other challenges have been, draw a treasure map and write out instructions to find the treasure, make a pirate game, sort out the treasure and find a way of recording it. It has really made child initiated time valuable.

I have a challenge area. I have some cubes and they can either copy the pattern or gather a certain amount of cubes or add together a certain amount of cubes. Fun fun fun! The children always put the cubes away at tidy up time though - they forget they are meant to stay there lol.

I have a challenge area in my reception class. I have challenges such as what words can you think of that rhyme with hat? I have a literacy basket, a maths basket and a creative basket. I tend to make challenges specific to the ELG's so that when children choose to do a challenge i can use it ias child initiated evidence, if you give me your email i will send you some challenges and a photo of my display